New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-16

1t is possible that the employees at the Loril
lard tobacco factory in Jcrcy City have great
cause of complaint, and are justified in their
present strike but it does not seem likely.
p. Lorillard g. Co. have the reputation Of treat
ing the people who work for them with great
consideration. Posted notices in the factories
promise careful attention to all complaints,
and library and night school are managed
by the firm for the benefit of employees. These
things indicate intelligence and humanity on
tho part Of the firm, and will not predSpo>e
tho public to accept as true charges OF op-
preston and cruelty in cutting down wages.
At any rate, if the Lorillards cannot get along
with their employees the labor situation in
Jersey City must be pretty bad.
The cause Of Federation is so popular in
England that The TRIBUNE's London CORE
spondent believes Mr.. Blight's opposition will
have little effect. 1t is matter. Of course
that concerns England and her provinces
alone but it is difficult for an outsider TO see
how lasting federation is to be brought about
between them so long as the colonies and the
mother-countIy are at odds in their economic
policy, or while the provinces quarrel among
themselves. Here is Nova Scotia anxious to
break away from the Dominion of Canada
because she wants FREQ trade and thinks she
Is being harmed by the tariff which the other
colonies flourish under. In the South Pacific,
New South Wales is also for free trade, while
her neighbow like protection. "Divided we
stand united we fall" would be neat motto
for Nova Scotia and New-South Wales.
Postmaster Pearson's report Of the work of
tho Post Office for the year 1886 indicates that
the loss of rev enue which was at first caused by
the reduction of letter postage from to 2
cents has been overcome by tie increase of
business. The gross revenue of the Post Office
in this city last year was nearly $4,000, 900,
figures which have hardly been exceeded at
any time. The immense amount IF busine ss
which the Postmasters figures show to have
been transacted and tho great revenues of the
Office warrant Congress and the Postmaster
General in acting with more liberality than has
ever yet been displayed toward the New York
Post Office. The clerks are hard worked and
tnder paid considering the expense of living
here, and postal facilities In some OF tying
parts Of the city are not such as they should
be. The New-York City office furnishes 90
large surplus to the National Treasury that it
ID only fair that as much OF that amount "a is
needed to keep the Office we'll equipped and
the public we'll served should be returned to
rs.
The friendships of great men are interesting
to know about; 40 are their quarrels, the
latter. perhaps, being the more instructive.
Thus from every point of view General Adam
Badeau's account published to-day. of the quar-
rel between General Grant and Charles Sumner
IL worth careful reading. Naturally enough,
perhaps, the writer puts Grant entirely in the
right. and Sumner quito in the wrong. posi-
lions which ardent friends Of the Senator
would probably reverse. But General Badeau
makes out strong case. II Sumner was not
always treated with the consideration his dis